"Get that oversized rat away from me!"

"Konnie, come on! He's been here two weeks! He's practically family!"

"No! It is a wild animal, with claws and teeth and it eats garbage!"

"So are we, Sister! You can't hide from it forever!"

Bradford sighed, sipping his coffee loudly as the clunking of angry combat boots filled the ship. He wished for the love of any god out there, that Kon-Mai would just pet the damn possum so Gur-Rai would shut the hell up. Unfortunately Kon-Mai's fear of koalas seemed to spread to other marsupials as well, and she all but demanded that the thing be put outside. To be honest, Bradford couldn't really blame her. Having a live animal (and a wild animal at that) was probably a bad idea, but of course Senuna had seen the damn thing and immediately fallen in love with it, so now there was no chance of it going anywhere.

And thus, poor Bradford walked over to the sink, dumped his coffee and crossed his arms. "Children, I can barely hear myself think over that noise you're making."

"Tell him to leave me be, then!" Kon-Mai jabbed her thumb at her brother as he followed her into the common area. She was still favoring her previously broken leg, but Tygan had at least given the okay for the metal splint to come off for short periods.

"Tell her to just pet the damn possum!" Gur-Rai held up Pangu, who was hanging from his grip like a floppy rug.

"Leave your sister alone, Darkstrider." Bradford said. "Don't you have a robot to build and supplies to destroy?"

"Soft animals are relaxing, Bradford." He held Pangu close to Bradford's face. "Come on~"

Bradford shook his head. "Put him back in his pen."

"Aw come on."

"That's an order, Darkstrider. That or I'll have Tygan put him in the maze again."

Gur-Rai gasped dramatically and hugged his possum close. "You monster." He couldn't help but chuckle. "Fine. Konnie, don't go anywhere, I'll be back."

As soon as he left, Kon-Mai turned to Bradford. "He is gone, let's pack up and abandon ship."

Bradford chuckled. "Come on, he's your brother."

"Yes." She raised a brow and chuckled. "It's what you were thinking, Central."

"Got me there." He stood up. "Need anything? Besides to get away from your siblings?"

"Where are we going?" She asked.

"Itching for a mission already?" He set his dirty cup on the console. "The Commander is stopping by Carthage. Geist wants to renegotiate the terms of our alliance. Again."

Kon-Mai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean renegotiate?"

Bradford ran a hand over his wrinkled face. "Geist and the Commander don't like each other all that much. Nonetheless, both of them realize they need each other to achieve their goal of killing the Elders. Unfortunately, that also means that they keep trying to stab each other under the table."

Kon-Mai seemed to bristle at that. "The Commander goes behind the back of her own allies?"

"Not if she can help it. But Geist is crafty, and it's a tough job keeping all the Templars in line." He admitted. "As it stands, he's upset because we've been diverting extra training to our own Psi Soldiers, like Princess, rather than his Templar warriors. We have limited space for both so the Commander needs to hash out a deal with him, one that ends in this alliance staying together."

Kon-Mai avoided Bradford's gaze and crossed her arms. "I don't see why this needs doing. Should one side not just capitulate for the sake of the war?"

"Which side?" Bradford asked. "That's the problem, Shrinemaiden. We can't favor the Templars at the expense of our own soldiers, especially when the Reapers and Skirmishers already don't like them. Doing that would put more out of balance than would be worth it."

"Perhaps I am not suited for politics." Kon-Mai admitted.

"You're one of our best assets on the battlefield." Bradford assured her. "Don't worry about the Templars. You three keep doing your jobs, and we still have an amazing edge on the Elders."

Kon-Mai nodded and smiled. "I am thankful, Central."

"Oh I am too. Believe me."

.

.

"You are tense this morning." Dhar-Mon's voice cut into the depths of Malinalli's mind. It was futile to ignore when they were bonded like this.

She opened her eyes briefly, then closed them again as the bright fluorescent light of his bedroom stung her cornea. "Just thinking about the other soldiers." She said softly.

"What about them?" And with that, she felt him tense up as well. It made her giggle.

"Getting jealous?" She cooed. "A lot of them have been suffering from psychological ailments, stuff I'm not qualified to treat."

The anxiety faded from Dhar-Mon's mind, replaced with a curious twinge of blue.

"We've been having a lot more deaths, too." She added. "I think it's starting to wear on people but I don't know how to help."

"You are a kind and genuine person." He assured her. "You do not simply wish to better your own life but the lives of others. That is something I have rarely seen."

"Thank you." She sighed. "But how do I help them?"

Her connection to Dhar-Mon faded as he let go of her hands, and she opened her eyes. She was once again aware of her surroundings, like the softness of the bed they sat on, and how very warm it was.

He was silent for a moment. "To say I know how to help these poor souls would be to lie." He admitted. "But there is a way. Perhaps it is for you to find. Perhaps not. In either case, I have full faith in you."

She nodded. "Thank you, Master~"

He blushed, and she giggled, declaring that a victory.

The ship shuttered just a bit, and they felt the gentle thunk as they touched down on land. Malinalli stood up and stretched. "We're here!"

"And where is here?" Dhar-Mon asked her.

"Dunno." She held out her hand. "Wanna come see?"

.

.

The sun was high in the sky, covering everything in a blanket of warmth. The sky was such a bright blue, and the way it reflected in the ocean blurred the horizon line and made it seem as though everything was merged together. Truly, as Dhar-Mon looked out over the ocean, the smell of the salty air took him back to his stronghold, and he breathed in deeply, the tranquility consuming him.

For a moment.

Something slapped him in the back of the head, and as he bristled and turned around, he saw Gur-Rai laughing with Shen as the two of them raced down the platform of the Avenger and onto the sand.

Kon-Mai and Verge were not far behind, emerging slowly from the Avenger dock, both decidedly curious at the sight before them. Kon-Mai seemed to twist her leg a bit inside the splint, and it held.

Dhar-Mon opted to turn back to his brother. "What have you done to me?"

"I just flicked you. You weren't paying attention." Gur-Rai raced up the dock again and took Dhar-Mon's hand. "Come on, come on, I wanna go swimming!"

"Swimming? We are here on a mission!"

"Bradford gave us the okay as long as we keep our radios on!" Shen called out. "Do you know how to swim, Hieromonk?"

Dhar-Mon scoffed. "Dr. Shen, I am surprised at you. My stronghold was in the center of Italy, and I patrolled the coastal towns on the regular! Of course I know how to swim!" He raised a brow. "Do you?"

"Yeah." She came up behind Gur-Rai. "And how to surf~"

"Oh, we should do that!" Gur-Rai looked to the two behind his brother. "How bout it you two?"

Kon-Mai sighed. "We are working, Gur-Rai, this is not a vacation."

"Sure it is." He smiled. "I bet you just know I can outswim you, Little Sister."

"Oh?" She raised a brow and smirked. "You are quite mistaken, Brother."

"Prove it."

"I do not have swimwear." She protested. "And if you think I am going to strip to my undergarments, you are sorely mistaken."

On cue, footsteps came up behind them, and as Kon-Mai turned, Senuna stood there, beaming. She was flanked by Malinalli, Bradford, and Jane, the latter of whom was carrying a stack of clothing in her hands.

"Commander." Kon-Mai and Dhar-Mon both bowed respectfully, and Verge saluted her. But she seemed to ignore them all.

"The ocean is so beautiful today…" Senuna sighed, her green eyes as wistful as the air. "Reminds me...well." The Commander looked forward, finally facing her soldiers. "I have gifts for all of you!" She gestured Jane forward, and it was then they saw the officer was holding a few articles of clothing.

"What is this?" Kon-Mai asked. Jane went to her first, pointedly holding up what almost looked like a dress, though it was short enough to be a shirt. With it was a pair of small trunks, both dyed a dark pink, nearly purple color.

"We had your measurements from making your armor." Jane said. "I...hope you don't mind, I took some liberties. Seemed like something you would like…" If she was blushing, Kon-Mai couldn't tell in the sunlight.

"If it fits me, then it is a masterpiece." Kon-Mai smiled at her. Jane avoided her gaze and kept distributing the articles of clothing.

"Are you guys gonna join us?" Shen asked.

Bradford shook his head. "Unfortunately we have to meet with Geist." He sighed. "God I wish I could join you guys. Been too long since I've been to the beach."

"You kids have fun for me!" Senuna winked. "There are some wood panels in the garage that would make excellent surfboards~"

.

.

Senuna had to admit, as much as she hated Geist, she loved Carthage and really admired what he had done with the place. The ancient metropolis had found new life with the Templars, who made their way lazily along stone streets, practicing fighting techniques in open arenas, trading goods and services among themselves in front of the stores they had set up. While some of the ancient walls still lay in ruin, they had repaired what they could and replaced even more, and Senuna could feel some of that mysterious, ancient energy returning to the site.

"Commander." A familiar voice said. "Geist is this way."

She and her officers turned to glance at the dark-skinned woman behind them, her blue uniform all too familiar.

"Iabet. Good to see you! How's the wife?" Senuna cried.

Iabet seemed surprised before she smiled warmly. "Tornike is well. And little Siv too, they have recovered from their injuries. Siv is looking at a promotion soon..."

"Oh that's wonderful!" She clapped.

"Commander, I understand you and Geist do not get along. But he is waiting." Iabet chuckled.

"Yes, I know. But I've waited a thousand years before and it did me so much good!" Senuna laughed as though everyone else was in on the joke, when in reality Bradford was facepalming and Iabet stood there in confusion.

"...I do have one question." Iabet admitted. "The Warlock…"

"What about him?" Senuna asked. "He goes by the Hieromonk now, by the way, and I think it fits him so well! I couldn't be more proud of the little-"

"He's alive?" Iabet gasped. "...I'm sorry, last I saw him he was bleeding out, when they took him away."

"He's alive." Jane cut in. "He made a full recovery too. Can fight again and everything."

Iabet's face relaxed significantly. "I'm glad...none of us knew what happened. Geist never told us."

"Of course he didn't." Senuna growled. "Come on then. It's time I spoke to him."

.

.

It had been so long since Kon-Mai had been in the water. Well, water that wasn't from a shower or bath. She had been trained to swim by her priests in her first year, but even that was almost a decade ago. Since those lessons, she'd been confined to the shore for her work, focusing most her efforts around inland China, being ferried by helicarrier when she had to cross the open sea.

Kon-Mai took a breath, remembering the old words Bhandasura used to speak to her. You must be calm, like water. Water does not hurt, it waits, trickles patiently. And that is who you are, how you love. But this? This was different. The ocean was so raw and unhinged, so gentle and forthcoming. It did not hold back; it did not need to. The waves crashed against the shore with a fury so foreign yet so familiar to her, and yet the way the lazy foam hugged the sand was warm and comforting.

She took a step forward into the wet sand. Her long hair was out of it's unusual braids and hung loose down her back, baby hairs flying wayward in the sea breeze. The water ashed up around her feet and she gasped at the cold. She had removed her splint to keep it from being damaged, and saw yet another badge of honor graced her leg: an angry white mark where her bone cut her skin.

"Heads up, Konnie!" Gur-Rai called from where he was as he smacked the water. Even from his position deep in the water, waves up to his chest, he still managed to splash her all the way on shore. "Come on! Quit stalling and get in!"

"Brother!" She growled. "Stop that!"

Gur-Rai smirked and smacked an oncoming wave again, this time showering his sister with droplets of foam.

She hissed. "You will suffer for that!"

"Make me~" He stuck his tongue out.

"Dude, she's gonna do it!" Shen cried, backing up away from the ballistic missile she knew was coming.

"You are right." Kon-Mai took several steps back, took a breath and dashed forward, launching herself into the waves. For a moment, the sand blinded her, but then the water cleared and she could see where Gur-Rai (or at least his feet) were.

With the grace of a dolphin, she swam along the shallow bottom, keeping low until she was directly behind him, at which point she curled up, tightening her body like a coil, and sprung.

Gur-Rai let out a yelp as his sister grabbed him around the shoulders and pulled him down into the water with her. Shen burst out laughing at the sight, while Gur-Rai struggled to get back to his feet.

"Kon-Mai! Stop! Lemme go! I can't swim, you bitch!"

"That is a lie!" Kon-Mai popped up once again. "You are Chosen! We can all swim!"

"Can you?" Malinalli asked as she came up beside Shen. Her hair had fallen from it's bun, and the water had plastered her curls nearly flat, making her hair resemble dark locks of seaweed..

"Of course." Warlock was wading over through the waves, although he was so tall that they barely came up to his knees. "We have trained for years in many survival skills. Swimming is important in a world that is mostly covered in water."

"At least the Elders made sure you all could do that." Malinalli looked over to Verge, who was sitting cross legged on the sand. "Come on Verge! The water is warm!"

He hesitated. "I am fine, Molly! Don't worry about me!"

"Unfortunately, Sectoids did not get the same treatment we Chosen did." Dhar-Mon sighed. "Verge, if you wish, I will teach you to at least survive in the water."

"I am fine here…" Verge seemed to hesitate as he said that, and it prompted Warlock to sigh.

"Are you sure?" Gur-Rai called out when he finally broke free from Kon-Mai's grasp. "Come on Verge! You can stay in the shallows for now!"

Verge looked hesitant.

Kon-Mai emerged from the depths, wringing out her long, white hair. "Verge, come join us, please." She flashed him a smile similar to her brother's when he wanted to be charming. "I promise you, you shall not drown when I am here."

While Verge did not seem to be swayed by her, he did look longingly out at the waves, and slowly stood. His swimsuit looked like it had come straight from the 60's, and was more like a full body wetsuit if not for the fact that it stopped at his elbows and knees. He took a few steps into the water.

"Malinalli, you have lied to me." He said. "This water is frigid."

She laughed and, like a mermaid, dove back into the water.

.

.

"Commander."

"Geist."

The two examined each other in the low light. Seated on opposite sides of the table, a chessboard sat between them, Senuna in white and Geist in black. His robes matched his pieces perfectly, in stark contrast with the Commander.

"We should switch." She said. "Black isn't your color."

"I know." He said. "I am in mourning."

"For who?" Senuna leaned forward and plucked her queen piece from the board.

"Three more of my Templars have fallen." He spat. "One on a mission you sent him on."

"I'm sorry." Senuna sighed. "I remember Hassan. They were facing off against a Berserker. He died defending his friends."

"He is still dead." Geist stared her down. "Senuna. You have been reckless with the agents I give you."

"Your agents are some of the best." She said. "I would never give them a challenge they couldn't handle."

"But you did, and now Hassan Apoorva is dead."

Senuna looked up, her eyes surprisingly blank and dead. "We are fighting a war, Geist. Remember?"

He glared at her, his eyes glowing purple in the dim light of the room. Any light that leaked inside had to cut through thick curtains and stone walls. Still, a bit of yellow sunshine tickled the edge of the room.

Senuna met Geist's gaze and did not flinch. He was powerful, but she was even moreso. He was still a baby in terms of his power. He would be no danger to her, even if he tried.

But she took a breath even so, calming herself. "Geist, it makes me sad to see your soldiers die, as sad as it makes me to lose my own." She tried to assure him. "I never sent Hassan in with the thought that he would die. But deaths do happen. I have lost at least 50 good people in the last six months."

"To be honest, Senuna." Geist crossed his arms. "I feel like you don't take this seriously." He leaned forward. "You need us. It's why you're here."

"That is true. I do need you." She stood slowly, her cape flourishing around her in a way so elegant, it would make any Templar jealous. "But let's not forget, Geist, how much work you all put into getting me out. Whatever was the point of that, hm?" She smiled, her teeth glowing white as she circled around the table.

Geist began to lean away, but Senuna's hand shot out and grabbed him by the arm, her long nails digging into his sleeve. "No, no, no. Don't go running off."

"Let go." He tried to rip his arm away, but her grip was like steel, and when he looked up, her eyes glowed like blue coals in the hottest fire. Her expression, though blank, held the faintest smile.

"You have no idea what I've seen, Geist." She hissed. "What I can do."

"You're no more powerful than I." His own eyes burned with purple light, and the room was growing hot.

"I wouldn't place your bets on that." She giggled. "I don't want a fight, Geist."

"Why not? Afraid to lose?"

"No. I'd just hate to accidentally kill you." She let go of him. "I am not your enemy."

"You are making a terrible case for yourself." He muttered, rubbing his arm.

She sat across from him again. "...This world is my home too." She said softly. "Just like it is yours."

"Then act like it." He said. "I want my soldiers to be given better equipment. Better training. I don't want to lose anyone else."

"I don't have anything better than what you already have." Senuna sighed. "You want me to keep your soldiers from death and that's not something I can do."

Geist glared at the chessboard, and Senuna reached out.

"I can't give your soldiers priority." She said. "But if, hypothetically, they wanted to join in the Reapers and Skirmishers training, that is a possibility."

Geist thought for a moment. "More training with guns? ...That is something we need."

"I have some basic ammunition in the stores as well. I can set up the Carthage militia with some extra equipment."

Geist nodded. "That's not what I had hoped for. But it will do." He picked up his own queen and tossed it aside. "I suppose you've beaten me at this game."

"I don't even know how to play chess." Senuna grinned.

.

.

Verge let his head dip below the water, only long enough that the salty wave crashed over his head. The force would have been enough to send his scrawny body flying, had Dhar-Mon not been holding his arms.

"Calm yourself, I have you." His strong voice reverberated through the water and made Verge feel safe once again. "Kick your legs, Verge."

Verge tried to say something, but as he opened his mouth he just breathed in a bunch of water accidentally. Jumping up and hacking, he stood there in chest deep water as Dhar-Mon patted his back.

"I'm sorry..." Verge gagged out between hacking coughs.

"Do not worry." The Chosen chuckled. "It was a mistake." He looked out into the waves. "It appears the tide is coming in. The waves are growing."

"Perfect surfin' weather!" Gur-Rai called. He and Shen had managed to sand down some of the boards into functioning surfboards. While they weren't completely aerodynamic, they could support their weight in the water. Shen was straddling one while Gur-Rai stood beside another, waving to Dhar-Mon and Verge.

"You wanna join us?" Shen called.

"I shall observe for now." Dhar-Mon answered. "Come, Verge, let us find a calmer spot."

"Where is Kon-Mai?" She and Malinalli had gone walking along the beach somewhere, and they hadn't seen them for a while. As the waves picked up, he heard Gur-Rai let out a holler.

"I am wondering the same thing." Dhar-Mon looked vaguely worried. 'And Malinalli, I had thought they would have reappeared by now…"

"I can always practice swimming later." Verge insisted. "Let's go-"

"Dhar-Mon!" Malinalli's voice echoed across the channel.

"Malinalli?" He called out, his booming voice overpowering the sound of the waves. Verge could not see them, but he could hear.

"Dhar-Mon! Get the others!"

"Molly?!" He cried. "She must be hurt." He waved to his brother and Shen. "COME! WE ARE NEEDED!"

Verge saw Gur-Rai jump off his board into an oncoming wave and begin paddling over to them, followed closely by Shen. As he looked, he realized that Malinalli's voice was coming from a sea cave that was a good way into the ocean, along the jutting cliff face. He'd have to swim to get there.

Dhar-Mon had no trouble with that prospect. He dove into the water with the speed and grace of a dolphin, as though he was born in the water. Verge saw him come up for air, and then stared at the Hieromonk as he began to swim, the toned muscles on his back rippling as he did. The water and sunlight made his blue skin glisten…

He looked up as Gur-Rai emerged from under the water too, and Shen followed, dragging her board. "Here." Gur-Rai pulled it over to him. "Get on this, I'll pull you over."

"I'll just stay here." Verge insisted.

"I'm not leaving you alone out here." Gur-Rai gave him a smile that was almost comforting. "It's okay. Come with me."

Verge sighed, and Lily held the board steady as he hopped up. It wobbled a bit in the waves, but Gur-Rai was holding it, and Verge knew he would not fall.

They waded out into deeper water, and soon Gur-Rai began a frog stroke, keeping hea head above the water and one hand on the board Verge sat on. Lily swam beside them, doing more of a floppy doggy paddle.

Verge opted to watch Gur-Rai. Every so often he would duck under the water, then come back up, the blue of his skin mixing with the blue of the ocean. He looked and moved like he belonged in the water, his lithe body cutting through the waves like a fish would. Verge could see Gur-Rai's own muscles as he swam and, while they were nowhere near as impressive as Dhar-Mon's, his skinny frame paired with the sharp tendons made him look incredibly powerful.

Gur-Rai came up and called out "Dhar-Mon! What's the-" He broke off with a slew of curse words, practically jumping out of the water and almost knocking Verge off the board. "FUCKFUCKFUCK SOMETHING TOUCHED MY LEG!"

There was a bubbling sound, then a splash, and Verge heard laughing as Kon-Mai came up, struggling to tread water when she was laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.

"You bitch!" Gur-Rai slapped the water, splashing her in the face. "I thought you and Molly were dying!"

"Nope!" Verge turned at the sound of Malinalli's voice and found that she was now piggy-backing on Dhar-Mon, who was miraculously staying afloat under their combined weight. "We just found a cool cave and wanted to show you."

"I apologize, Brother." Dhar-Mon chuckled. "Scaring you was my suggestion."

"The whole world is against me." Gur-Rai put a hand to his head and pretended to faint into the water.

"I am not against you." Verge assured him. "In fact while I cannot swim, I can climb. Somewhat."

Gur-Rai grinned. "Race you guys up that cliff!" He took hold of Verge and began to paddle.

"Gur-Rai, you are going to get hurt!" Kon-Mai shook her head. "Is there any real point in stopping him?"

"None that I see." Dhar-Mon held out his hand. "Come on, Sister, we cannot simply let him win~"

.

.

"I'd say that went well." Senuna mused as she scratched Pangu behind the ears. The possum was nibbling on a piece of jerky Bradford had given him, and her Central Officer was now laid back on the couch. "Bradford, there is still daylight left if you'd like to swim~"

"Nah." He chuckled. "Doubt I remember how. When you grow up in rural Kansas it's an awful long walk to the beach."

"I could teach you." She sighed, looking out the window as the sun cut across the glassy waves. She saw the Chosen, the children, returning to the shore, playfully splashing and shoving each other into the waves, laughing like there was nothing wrong with the world.

(Another short one today, but after this, we'll be getting into some pretty intense stuff, so I wanted one more chapter where all seems to be well in the world!)